Foot-rest for pianos.



No. 853.671. PATBNTED MAY 14, 1907.

W. B. BAILEY & W. D. REED.

FOOT BEST FOR PIANOS..

APPLICATION FILED N07.22,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. BAILEY AND WILLIAM D. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed November 22, 1905. Serial No 288.520%.

T0 at 'LU71/0772/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. BAILEY and WILLIAM D. REED, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in. the county of look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inv Foot- Rests for Pianos; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to a novel construction in a foot rest for pianos adapted to be mounted adjacent the pedals, so that the heels of the performers feet will rest upon the same and prevent the floor from being scratched, the object being to provide a simple device of this character which may be readily inserted in position and removed, and consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsillustrating our invention: Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a piano showing a foot rest constructed in accordance with our invention applied thereto, the latter being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a foot rest constructed in accordance with our invention and showing the position of same with relation to the pedals in dotted lines. Our invention has for its particular object to provide a removable foot-rest for pianos or the floor but which is supported in proper position by means of an expansible device inserted underneath the piano and resting on the floor and which when expanded becomes firmly wedged in position without marring either the piano or the floor.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and particularly delined in the appended claims.

The device consists of two bars A each provided between its ends with an upwardly extending projection C, the latter acting as a stop to limit the insertion of the free end portion B of each bar underneath the piano. To the said free end portion B of each bar A an arm D is pivotally secured at one end, said arm being provided between its ends with a projection such as a rubber button E adapted to rest upon the floor. The said arm D is disposed beneath the bar A and at its 'free end is provided with a recess in which the 1 l l i lower end of a thumb-nut F is adapted to be received, the said thumb-nut being mounted on threaded shank G mounted in the free end portion II of said bar A forward of said projection C. To the said free end portions ll of said bars A the free ends of the arms I of a platform or foot-rest M are pivotally secured, the pivots being so arranged as to permit the said platform M to be raised but limiting the downward movement thereof, this being preferably accomplished. by securing to the said free end portion II on the under side, by means of a screw K, a flat spring J which, at its free end, enters a recess in the underside of the arm I and engages the end wall IA of said recess. preferably square so that in turning the same on said pivots the lower corners thereof will engage and depress said spring and the latter will in turn when said arms are turned to substantially vertical positions, engage such squared end and maintain said arms in the raised positi ons in a well-known manner. The

I said platform orfoot-rest M is adapted to sup:

port the heels of the performer and is provided on its inner edge with a raised flange N to prevent the performers heels from slipping off the same. The distance of said flange from the pedals is such that the ball of the performers foot will rest upon the pedal when the heel rests upon. the platform Min contact with the said flange On the lowerface of said platform M are two rubber buttons O which are adapted to strike the floor and support said platform in the event that the same yields to more than ordinary pressure. The said bars A are disposed on either side of the pedals and are frictionally held in place by forcing the portion II thereof and the free end of the arm D apart by me ans of the threader shank G and said nut F. Said bars A are, further, provided with projections P which are ad apted to be forced. into the bottom of the piano to hold said bars against slipping. The bars A and D together form expansible jaws which, when expanded wedge themselves beneath the piano.

o claim as our invention:

1. A device of the kind specified comprising two parallel bars adapted to be inserted beneath a piano, arms pivotally secured at one end to the inserted ends of said bars and resting on the floor beneath the latter, means carried by said bars, and engaging the free ends of said arms to force the same away The ends of said arms I are from said bars, and a swinging platform piv otally engaged with the other ends of said bars.

2. A device of the kind specified comprising two parallel bars adapted to be inserted beneath a piano, arms pivotally secured at one end to the inserted ends of said bars, and resting on the floor beneath the latter, means carried by said bars and engaging the :free ends of said arms to force the same away from said bars, and a swinging platform pivotally engaged with the other ends of sa d bars, and projections on said bars between their ends adapted to engage the piano front to limit the insertion of said bars beneath the same.

3. A device of the kind speci'lied comprising two parallel bars adapted to be inserted beneath a piano, arms pivotally secured at one end to the inserted ends of said bars and resting on the floor beneath the latter, means carried by said bars and engaging the free ends of said arms to force the same away from said bars, and a swinging platform pivotally engaged with the other ends of said bars, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said platform in one direction.

4. A device of the kind specified comprising two parallel bars adapted to be inserted beneath a piano, arms pivotally secured at one end to the inserted. ends of said bars and resting on the floor beneath the latter, means carried by said bars and ei'igaging the free. ends of said arms to force the same away from said bars, and. a swinging )latform pivotally engaged with the other ends of said bars, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said platform in one direction, and projections on said bars between. their ends adapted to engage the piano front to limit the insertion of said bars beneath the same.

5. A device of the kind specified comprising two expansible wedges each. consisting of two pivotally connected arms, and means for forcibly expanding the same, said wedges bemg ada ')ted to be inserted partially beneath a piano and then expanded to hold the same frictionally in place, and a foot-rest pivotally engaged with the ends of two of the arms one arm. of each wedge respectively.

6. A device of the kind specified, comprising two expansible wedges each consisting of two pivotally connected. arms, and means for forcibly expanding the same, said wedges being adapted to be inserted partially beneath a piano and there expanded to hold the same frictionally in place, and. a foot-rest pivotally engaged with the ends of two arms, one arm of each wedge respectively, and a stop disposed .in said pivotal engagement.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WTI LLTAM E. BAILEY. WILl JAM D. REE l \Vi tnesses RUDOLPH \VM. Lo'rz, I Rom. A. FINLAY. 

